DoD News

News Article

Three U.S. Soldiers Die in Baghdad, Ramadi Attacks

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2005  Two American soldiers died in central Baghdad, Iraq, today, when terrorists riding in a vehicle fired on a U.S. convoy, military officials reported. Another soldier, assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed May 18 during an indirect-fire attack on a U.S. base in Ramadi. The 2nd BCT is a U.S. Army unit assigned to the 2nd MEF in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The names of the deceased soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The incidents are under investigation.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, detained eight suspected terrorists during cordon-and-search operations in western and southern Mosul today. Soldiers from the same unit also detained a suspect during a similar operation in southwestern Mosul May 18. The suspects are in custody, and no multinational forces were injured in the missions.

A May 19 terrorist attack on an Iraqi Transitional National Assembly member's house in northeastern Mosul resulted in the deaths of eight people. Two others were wounded. At least three terrorists also were injured during the assault.

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, saw terrorists on a rooftop near the assembly member's home. When the terrorists began firing at a helicopter that was called to investigate, the helicopter returned fire, injuring three terrorists.

Members of the assembly member's personal security team were killed and injured in an exchange of gunfire that followed. The injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials provided no information on the fate of the assembly member.